A plucky North Melbourne has gone down to the Western Bulldogs by 16 points in the clubs' season-opening clash in sweltering conditions at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

The Roos trailed by just seven points at three-quarter time after Nick Larkey's fifth goal closed the margin, but despite a three-goal final-term cameo from Paul Curtis, it wasn't to be as the Dogs won 17.11 (113) to 14.13 (97).

The thrilling match was overshadowed by a horror fourth-quarter collision between Kangaroo Jackson Archer and Bulldog Luke Cleary.

Cleary was getting down low to pick up the ball, with Jacob Konstanty in pursuit, when Archer flung himself forward and went over the top of the Bulldog, accidentally collecting him in the head with his knee.

Cleary, 23, was knocked out and play was stopped for several minutes as he received medical attention before being taken off on a stretcher.

Bulldogs Ed Richards (30 disposals, one goal), Bailey Dale (29 touches, two goals), stand-in skipper Tom Liberatore and recruit Matt Kennedy were busy.

Laitham Vandermeer and Aaron Naughton (three goals apiece) hit the scoreboard along with Ryley Sanders and Lachie McNeil (both two).

BULLDOGS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Kangaroos spearhead Nick Larkey kicked five goals after coming into the game under an injury cloud.

North big man Tristan Xerri (51 hitouts) dominated the ruck against Tim English and Sam Darcy to give first use to Tom Powell (27 touches), Harry Sheezel (31) and Jy Simpkin (30).

The Dogs pounced on poor turnovers to take a 23-point lead into quarter-time.

Alastair Clarkson's team ramped up the pressure and snagged four consecutive goals to cut the deficit to just four points, before trailing by 10 at half-time.

The Bulldogs host Collingwood next Friday night while the Kangaroos play Melbourne next Sunday.

There's another loaded gun in Clarko's arsenal
Plenty of good judges thought Finn O’Sullivan the cream of last year’s draft crop, and he showed enough to have Roos fans confident they’ve landed another gun. Playing off half-back O’Sullivan gathered 16 possessions at 81 per cent disposal efficiency, looking every part a composed AFL footballer. Clarkson now has an amazing group of talented young midfielders and, if he can keep them together, it’s only a matter of time till they take North back near the top end of the ladder.

WESTERN BULLDOGS      5.3    8.5     12.7      17.11 (113)
NORTH MELBOURNE        1.4    6.7    10.12     14.13 (97)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 3, Vandermeer 3, Bale 2, Sanders 2, McNeil 2, Richards, Freijah, Harmes, Davidson, Darcy
North Melbourne: Larkey 5, Curtis 3, Davies-Uniacke 2, Zurhaar, Simpkin, Scott, Darling

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Dale, Richards, Naughton, Liberatore, Vandermeer, Darcy
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Powell, Larkey, Sheezel, Daniel

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: O'Donnell (jaw), Cleary (head)
North Melbourne: Archer (leg), Logue (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Jones (replaced O'Donnell at three-quarter time)
North Melbourne: Tucker (replaced Phillips in the third quarter) 

Crowd: 34,406 at Marvel Stadium